GOP State Senate president closes investigation into Republican colleague

9NEWS spoke to the accuser who said she just wants an apology and Sen. Jack Tate to know his behavior did affect her.

Author:
Jacob Rodriguez, Anusha Roy

Published:
6:03 PM MDT March 29, 2018

Updated:
10:37 PM MDT March 29, 2018

GOP Senate President Kevin Grantham (R-Canon City) is going in a different direction than an independent review into sexual harassment allegations against fellow Republican State Sen. Jack Tate (R-Centennial).

Grantham wrote in a Thursday letter to his colleague that despite an independent investigation into four allegations of sexual harassment finding differently, he does not believe Tate violated any policy.

Citing inconsistencies in the specifics of one complaint, Grantham said there's no way to accurately determine if Senate policy was violated.

He's also been told the other three allegations "do not in any way allege a violation of our workplace harassment policy," according to the letter.

Tate was accused of misconduct in November of last year after a woman came forward anonymously to KUNC. The state senator has maintained his innocence throughout the investigative process.

After conferring with legal counsel and talking to the vice president of the agency who conducted the independent review into Tate, Grantham concluded the letter by saying he was closing the investigation into his colleague.

"This has been a learning experience for all of us," Grantham said in the letter.

Tate wasn't the only Colorado legislature accused of harassment late last year, as State Rep. Steve Lebsock (D-Thornton) and State Sen. Randy Baumgardner (R-Hot Sulphur Springs) were also accused.

Lebsock was ejected from the Democratically-held state legislature earlier this year after investigation deemed his accusers credible. Baumgardner has not resigned but did step down as chair of one of the committees he runs in the State Senate after a similar investigation found claims against him credible as well.

At the beginning of the month, Grantham called for criminal investigations into allegations of sexual harassment in the legislature. He wants the District Attorney to look into each claim.

"Anybody that is guilty of sexual assault, if someone is convicted of such a crime or any kind of felony, it is incumbent upon us as a body, a Senate or a House, Democrats or Republicans, to expel those members," said Grantham.

9NEWS talked to Tate’s accuser, who asked us to hide her identity in part out of concern for her future.

Still, she said needed to share what happened.

"I want him to know that his behavior did affect me and did cause me a lot of mental health problems,” she said.

She said never wanted Tate to lose his job. What she wanted was an apology for what happened during the 2017 legislative session that ended last spring, when she was interning at the Capitol.

"We're in the elevator he kind of looks over at me and looks me up and down and says, 'I really like the way that skirt fits you.'"

She said he would seek her out.

"It all seemed very planned, he would catch me at different times when I was leaving or when I was coming," she explained.

She filed a complaint and the investigation by the Office of Legislative Services found more likely than not that Tate commented on her clothing, flirted with her and put his arm around her shoulders and nudged her near her waist as many as eight times.

"I asked for an apology and for him to step down from his chairmanship," she said.

It never happened.

Tates' spokesperson shared a legal opinion that said the investigation didn't appear fair or unbiased but didn't answer whose opinion it was. Tate is still the chairman of the Business, Labor, & Technology committee.

His office released a one-line statement on Thursday that read, "I am grateful this situation has concluded."

The former intern has walked away from politics altogether.

"That can't keep happening, especially to young women who want to be in politics," she said.

She chose to stay anonymous for several reasons, saying she’s still in college and doesn’t want this to sway the way professors see her.

“More importantly, there are women and girls who I work with who might not work with me if I have a very public eye on me at all times, there is a certain part of anonymous nature that needs to remain," she said. “I'm not out to ruin his life, I'm not out to ruin his reputation. I just want him to realize that this behavior is not acceptable.”